US embassy cable - 04TEGUCIGALPA2383

UNCLAS TEGUCIGALPA 002383 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT. FOR WHA/PD; IIP/G/WHA DIPASQUALE; AND IIP/T/ES 
DEPT. FOR EB/TPP DCLUNE, WHA/EPSC AND WHA/CEN 
DEPT. PASS USTR 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, ETRD, HO, USTR 
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION ON CAFTA, OCTOBER 15, 2004 
 
1. Editorial in Tegucigalpa-based moderate daily "El 
Heraldo" on 10/12, entitled "Towards CAFTA."  "The warning 
about the negative consequences of CAFTA made by the World 
Bank and the turn this issue may take if Bush loses the 
November elections should be a matter of concern and of 
immediate action for the governments of the region, 
particularly for Honduras." 
 
"Although the toughest opponents of CAFTA, the FTAA and the 
whole globalization process have been the so-called 
`globophobics', a diverse mixture of Orthodox Marxists, 
conservatives and hard-line nationalists, the truth is that 
they've now been joined by other moderate sectors that have 
found flaws in these agreements, as well as agricultural 
producers that would be the most affected, as has been 
acknowledged by the WB." 
 
"As a matter of fact, the Democratic candidate for the U.S. 
presidency, John Kerry, has warned that if he's elected, 
he'll push for a renegotiation, as was confirmed by 
Congressmen Dennis Kucinich and Hilda Solis last week." 
 
"The Honduran government needs to create a framework to 
improve production, to take advantage of open markets, to 
assist those who would be affected, and to get ready for an 
eventual renegotiation that would correct the mistakes of 
the current agreement, which would improve our balance of 
costs and benefits." 
 
Pierce